139 new COVID-19 cases, 15 deaths recorded in Egypt

CAIRO,9 April 2020: New 139 cases of coronavirus, COVID-19 and 15 deaths have been announced, Thursday, by Egypt’s Ministry of Health, bringing the total number of infections to 1,699 and deaths to 118.

It was added that the number of coronavirus cases whose tests turned from positive to negative increased to 468, including 348 people who recovered from the virus.

Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said that the 139 new coronavirus cases detected, all of them are Egyptians. All positive cases were quarantined at hospitals, the spokesman said.

The health ministry has stepped up precautionary measures in all governorates and intensified campaigns to spread awareness about infectious diseases.

Megahed reiterated that the health ministry announces all positive and suspected cases nationwide.

On Wednesday, Egypt extended a nationwide night-time curfew by two additional weeks, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a televised interview, as the country is tailoring measures to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the country.

The prime minister’s speech also included a number of key messages and decisions, which includes the following:

- Egypt will extend a nationwide night-time curfew by 15 days until April 23
- The Ministry of Interior will ensure enforcing the curfew with no excuses
- The health of Egyptian citizen is very important and the government is taking a number of measures to survive the crisis
- The coming period will see more sterilization procedures for all state facilities
- Citizens must be aware lest the number of cases suddenly double
- The next three weeks will see an increase in injuries
- Salaries of the Prime Minister and state ministers will be deducted by 20 percent for three months to support precarious employment
- Prime Minister: We pray to god not to reach a critical situation
- Public commitment is the most important factor in confronting COVID-19
- Egypt remains within the safe zone of containing the pandemic so far
- The decision to close down cafes, malls, casinos, night clubs, bars and amusement parks will also be extended until April 23
- Airports will also stay closed until the end of the month

“Our projections for this week were 120-150 cases daily. There will be increases in the number of infections in the coming two or three weeks…but the more important thing is that the rise is slight and gradual,” the prime minister added.